Spring Break - Better With Snacks

Went on the road with three teens for part of Spring Break. Destination: Santa Cruz. No, we haven't seen Us. I have fond memories of my undergrad time at UCSC. Both kids have been there before, and like it and the ocean.

The hotel room had a balcony with a view of the ocean. The weather was a fantastic sunny break between rainstorms. We spent an afternoon at the beach and enjoyed it. James did a lot of walking. We all slept great.

The hotel had a great continental breakfast buffet, which was a relief because James is being extra picky right now about what he eats.

The teen girls enjoyed bubble tea and shopping at the Pacific Garden Mall. James and I found our own places to visit, including the Pacific Cookie Company. I could tell this really hit the spot for James. He turned on his great smile and it stayed for quite a while. 

Weekend Chores

James is ten, almost eleven. One of the things I have been working with him includes learning skills to live more independently. James is good when self-directed, or working off a chart.

This morning, we worked on gathering laundry and gathering for washing. Laundry takes the longest, but he is getting better at it. I still have to watch him load the washer because sometimes things he throws in his laundry basket should be be added to the washer, such as stray toy building bricks, his jacket, or a plastic bag of dirty clothes (from an outing).

Washing dishes is tougher for James, with the slippery dishes and difficulty he has making one hand grip a cup or plate and the other a sponge to administer a scrubbing. I've found it's best to try with plasticware ... and have a spare shirt and pants handy when he gets his first set splashed with water.

Last weekend we straightened the DVDs and VHS tapes.

Baby steps!

An Excellent Time at the County Fair

A summer weekend, and the kids want an outing. I want time to enjoy with them and the great weather outdoors. Luckily, I planned ahead! Last month, we entered a Fair contest (colouring a pre-printed drawing) and were mailed free tickets to the fair to go see our entries -- and a whole lot more. Because I saved a lot on admission, I was able to buy some ride tickets.

But first, let's start off right, with perfect weather and crowds. It was hot, but with breezes off the coastal fog bank. There were enough people to create an upbeat buzz but not so many that it was hard to wander and look at things. Our entry price? Free! We participated in a contest and received tickets to come see our entries.

We began with the kids spinning for free prizes at the credit union booth, and I being handed a credit union backpack to hold the won articles. We then mooved along to free ice cream from Clo at the Clover-Stornetta booth. Yum, it was so good! James and his sister tend to be picky about their ice cream and they ate every bite.

As we finished up we realized we were standing practically at the boarding stop for the buggy ride, so we caught ourselves a pleasant little tour of the fair, driven by a cowboy and his daughter. James tried asking a couple of questions, but I really think he was trying to engage with the cute cowgirl. Her dad explained to my daughter how to properly use a whip (which she'd seen and asked him about) and the spurs.

After this, we decided to try the Butterfly Adventure - a new exhibit to the fair. That was a hit, especially for James' sister. James liked the butterflies, but began to freak out when they fluttered close to him, so our visit was a little shorter than we might have liked. Still, it was a great experience, and no butterflies were harmed by our group.

Intro & info

A look into the butterfly room

This man was very funny; right here he's explaining that the Q-Tip-like objects were truly
handcrafted by Tibetan monks ... during a full moon

Monarchs!

I fed one, with my magic Tibetan stick!

It's a moth, I know ... but still!!

awesome!

Continuing our enjoyment of free fair entertainment, we cruised through the craft halls, where we admired some thematic displays, pies, and quilts. We came across a tiny railroad, complete with some of America's natural wonders ... and dinosaurs. What a find! Even more fortunately, the gentleman who made the entire project was there. He talked so nicely with the kids, eager to share his love of trains and to ask what they thought after watching the cars go around through the fantastic landscapes. I love coming across people like that man.

Jluy 4th display

It's not a county fair without pie!

Just really liked this; the artist is only 16!

Heh. The 10th took 3rd at the LEGO table.

tiny train and park. I wish I had gotten this man's name. He was so genial and nice with the kids.

James surprised me by asking to go on the small roller coaster. o.O  So we all went. He did very well all the way through, but once was enough. His sister took a second ride while we watched. After a long walk through the Midway, big sister decided to try the Fun House. It was okay, but too short. We wound up that area by playing one of the midway games. James actually landed a ping pong ball in a bowl. Alas, it was the colour that earned you more balls to toss, but still, it prolonged the excitement for a bit

.

We did pause for some nutritious snacks: popcorns, kettle corn, and a snow cone. Then a final look another hall of crafts and art pieces before viewing our entries in their binders.

We saw and did more things ... but they're for another post!

Earth Day

Our local Farmers' Market started up today for the year. What a nice way to celebrate Earth Day! Besides the usual vendors, there were live performances and booths for earth-friendly businesses, health centers, and community programs. The local gardening club put on a fine plant and flower show.

We made this event our family activity for the week, and arrived early so we could park and plug in. Yes, plug in. The town recently installed 3 electric vehicle charging stations and our Leaf was the perfect fit for this.

Although the Bread Lady was not there, we found lots to see and buy. We're trying a bag full of honey-wheat rolls (they actually look like small loaves), golden beets, and gala apples from our favourite apple guy, who told us all about the uses of cotton & its by-products. And in the spirit of supporting our girl's interest in baking with fruits, I bout a raspberry cane from the garden club table and several raffle tickets for luck.

The atmosphere was excited, yet relaxed. The crowd was appreciative of the stage acts (senior center's Zumba group and the Healdsburg Belly Dancing troupe). Parks and Rec had volleyball nets with beach balls set up for kids, and I saw a modified game of horseshoes with Hula Hoops. Families from all over were having a blast.

The stilt walkers gave me 70s flashbacks, which was appropriate, seeing as Earth Day got started back in 1970.

And that's just the morning. We had a pool part this afternoon too!

A New Year's Tradition

We live within an hour of the Pacific ocean and trips to the coast and its beaches are happy events. Making a special New Year's pilgrimage to the Pacific has made for some of the most enjoyable of memories for our  family. In recent years, we haven't been able to make it every year, for various reasons.

Last year I made the trip alone with the kids to with visit friends. This year we celebrated having a car that could make the trip to the coast without needing breaks to recharge it. We investigated a new beach, where the pounding, towering surf made me incredibly nervous for the kids, even as it's raw beauty wowed me. So after lunch and a whole lotta ooohing and ahhhing we piled back in the car and made for our favourite local family cove.

Doran Beach was hopping. I had to wait for 3 people to leave before I found a parking spot. Once we hit the sands, the kids flew to the waterline, where much milder waves crashed and splashed ashore. Our daughter made fast friends with another girl, her shovel (a full-sized garden specimen), and bucket. They spent almost an hour digging a pit and building a sand sofa in it. I adore my girl.

James became one with the surf and sand. It was interesting to watch him walk, his feet and toes as sensitive and fingers and hands, while he held up his actual hand and fingers like sign posts and kept them immobile.

James had a blast, interfacing with the beach by using his feet:

We agreed that this was an excellent start to a New Year. I love that we keep using our Regional Parks pass and membership. What would we do without the ocean?

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Independent Day

I somehow feel that this year both kids keep showing their growing independence. Oh, I still hear my name called a bazillion times a day, but I no longer have to hold or tag along watchfully after them. Much. I can now go out and garden for almost an hour at a time, without the kids crying for me to come back inside, climbing to dangerous heights, otherwise injuring themselves or the house. They have found other things to do, like read books, play video games, or (gasp) play with their toys. They help do chores around the house on their own.

Today James and his sister helped me prepare for a family Fourth of July picnic by helping me spear berries on bamboo sticks and make Rice Krispy treat toppers (thanks, 5 Minutes for Mom, for the great idea).

They dressed themselves in red, white, and blue(ish) clothes and helped me pack the picnic bag. Once at the picnic, they ran around outside, playing with their cousins. It may seem banal, but there are years of waiting and yearning on my part, as well as hours of Social Stories, sensory work, speech therapy, O/T, and ABA help our kids enjoy this simple, happy afternoon.

I remember earlier years when the kids loved climbing the stairs in the barn, shied away from strange faces, and had to be followed, lest they fell into the creek or got lost behind a hay bale and panicked. Those memories are sweet,  but getting to relax and enjoy the day while the children made their own agenda was something to celebrate as well.


For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.






               and ... Wordless Wednesday

Father's Day, Green Style

For his special day, James' dad wanted to visit as a family a place that he loves to explore with the kids when he's giving me a break -- the Solar Living Center in Hopland.

Eager to be eco-friendly, we piled into our new Leaf and took off up the highway. The scenery was beautiful and the weather gorgeous and warm, not sizzling hot like the day before. When we arrived, we were dismayed to see charger stations, but no cords that we could use. Ah well, we decided to explore first and worry later.

While James' dad talked solar shop at the alternative energy counter,  the kids swung on the hanging chairs, chased butterflies, and ate ice cream treats. They loved to play by the water!

After a bit it was time to charge at an outlet that was fairly close. Our best bet was back the way we came, at Coppola's. I teased my husband, "Happy Godfathers' Day!"

It took a while to get the car properly hooked up, so I fed the kids some lunch from our reusable picnic bag. Then we headed into the gift shop, where James wanted to drive the Tucker and climb aboard the model ships from the movie Marie Antoinette. So we took Monkey Man outside, where he gave his dad a tour, asked to go swimming, and finally helped us down gelato at the snack counter.

 

After an hour or so we returned home, happy from a family day trip, in which we burned no fossil fuels at all.